The Washington Times reports that a woman in Sandy, Utah’s life was saved because she was able to post on Facebook.  The Woman’s ex had kidnapped her and their child and held them captive for several days.

Sandy police on Saturday arrested Troy Critchfield, 33, on suspicion of kidnapping, sodomy, child abuse and animal cruelty. According to documents filed with the Salt Lake County jail, when Sandy police arrived at the home, the woman said Critchfield had held her and her son for four or five days, that Critchfield had beaten, choked and sodomized her and had “thrown” her 17-month-old son. Critchfield also hadn’t fed the dog in five days, the woman said.

Critchfield had taken the woman’s cellphone, but about 4:30 p.m. Saturday she was able to sneak into a closet and post a request for help on Facebook, documents say. The note also said she and her son would be dead by morning.

Court documents show Critchfield and the woman have a son together. Critchfield was convicted in 2010 of a felony-level assault against the woman. In February of this year a judge ordered him to serve 120 days in jail and three years probation.

He is being held in the Salt Lake County jail without bail.